Hurricane-displaced students find room at area colleges

Friday, September 2, 2005
By Akiko Matsuda and Alison Bert

Colleges are making special accommodations to enroll students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Keith Bortniker flew into New Orleans on Saturday to start his semester as a sophomore at Tulane University. But the 18-year-old from Tappan spent only one hour on campus because he had to evacuate to avoid Hurricane Katrina. 

Leaving the city behind that evening, he and his father, Bruce Bortniker, who was there to help his son move in, drove east through Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. And then in Atlanta, they finally got on a plane and flew back home on Tuesday. 

"I'm very disappointed," Bortniker, a Pearl River High School graduate, said yesterday. "I'm praying for people down there. I really miss being there because the city has so much to offer." 

He added that he felt for his fellow students. 

"I'm really sorry for freshmen because they don't know what it's like to be in the college yet," Bortniker said. 

Bortniker is one of hundreds of thousands of displaced students from colleges and universities that were shut down because of the disaster. 

Colleges elsewhere were offering classroom space for them to continue their studies. 

St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill is ready to accept students from the affected area. 

"My heart just went out for these students," said Margaret M. Fitzpatrick, president of the college. "We want to give them opportunity not to delay their college education while they have so many other things to deal with." 

Fitzpatrick said the school might be able to offer a limited amount of financial aid for eligible students, although she wouldn't offer specifics because she didn't know how many students would be interested in enrolling. The college and its students plan to organize a fundraiser for the victims.

Barry Ward, vice president of enrollment management for Manhattanville College in Purchase, said his college is also meeting affected students to support their education.

"I'm seeing a lot of shocked faces," Ward said yesterday.

Because most students don't have access to their college transcripts, he was contacting their high school guidance counselors to obtain information about their academic background and integrity, he said.

"It's almost becoming a trust-based system, which I think is phenomenal," Ward said.

Iona College in New Rochelle also is extending a hand to affected students.

"Even though we have absolutely no room for residential students, we will try to make accommodations in our classrooms," President Br. James Liguori said. "We will welcome them as a part of our Catholic mission."

Liguori said his college received several inquiries from displaced students who were looking for a place to study. One of them was already enrolled in the college's program, he added.

Samantha Friedberg, 18, a recent graduate of Ardsley High School, decided to accept an offer to study at a local school.

Friedberg, who would have been a freshman at Tulane, registered at Westchester Community College in Valhalla after she flew back home on Tuesday. Friedberg said she chose WCC because of the courses they offer. She also added that the college was appealing because the classes hadn't started yet. Many colleges have already started their fall semesters.

"I'm really upset. I'm really sad. I really would have liked to have started off my freshman year at Tulane," Friedberg said.

But she made up her mind to study at WCC while she waited for things to get back to normal at Tulane.

"I'm happy about it," Friedberg said of her decision. "It's a very convenient location, and I got into all the classes I wanted to take. It won't be Tulane, but I think that it's a very good substitute."

Later yesterday, Bortniker also found a place to continue his studies. He was accepted by Binghamton University, SUNY, where 20 students from the hurricane-affected area had committed to attend as of yesterday. According to Cheryl Brown, director of undergraduate admissions, the university expected more students.

The fall semester in Binghamton started last week. Bortniker planned to move to the area today. Although it was hectic, he said, he was happy about the university's offerings.

"They're going to make it work for us," Bortniker said. "They're very supportive."

Binghamton University in Vestal: Call the university's admissions office at 607-777-2171 and ask for Cheryl Brown, director of undergraduate admissions.

More information

• Iona College in New Rochelle: Ask for Nancy Neville at the Admissions Office through the college's main number at 914-633-2000.
• Manhattanville College in Purchase: Contact Barry Ward, vice president of enrollment management, at 914-323-5127.
• St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill: Contact Vin Crapanzano, dean for enrollment management, at 845-398-4019 or the Admissions Office at 845-398-4100.
• Westchester Community College in Valhalla: Call the Admissions Office at 914-606-6735.

To find out how to donate or help with Manhattanville's hurricane relief
effort, please contact the Duchesne Center at 914-323-5468.